Prince Harry gets equality course over quip

Reuters Staff

2 Min Read

LONDON (Reuters Life!) - Britain’s Prince Harry is to be sent on an army equality and diversity course after he was reprimanded for calling an Asian army colleague a “Paki”, the Daily Mirror reported on Thursday.

Prince Harry listens as his brother Prince William (not pictured) delivers a speech in west London, January 8, 2009. REUTERS/Toby Melville

The 24-year-old prince issued an apology after his remarks, captured on a video made in 2006, were published on a newspaper website. He said the comments were made without any racist malice intended.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown was among those who condemned Harry — grandson of Queen Elizabeth and third in line to the throne — for using the derogatory term.

It will be the second such course Harry has attended but this one will be more intensive than the standard class he took as a new army recruit, the paper said.

The prince had been formally disciplined and the offence added to his permanent military record, it added.

The Ministry of Defense said investigations into the affair were now over.

“The army has concluded its considerations in relation to this case,” an MOD spokesman said.

In some of the published video footage, Harry was behind the camera and could be heard making a mock commentary.

“Anyone else here ... ah, our little Paki friend ... Ahmed,” Harry said as he zoomed onto the face of an Asian officer cadet while waiting at an airport to fly to Cyprus.

The word “Paki” is derogatory slang for an immigrant or descendant of an immigrant from Pakistan.

The recording was made a year after Harry was pilloried for wearing a Nazi uniform at a costume party, a gaffe that sparked an international outcry.

A royal spokeswoman said the matter was now closed.

“Prince Harry has apologized fully for his comments,” she said. “He has been subjected to normal army disciplinary procedures like any other officer.”